Ross Barkley has been told by Three Lions boss Gareth Southgate that he is OUT of the World Cup in Russia this summer.

The Chelsea midfielder – who joined the champions from Everton in a £15million January deal - has been sidelined by another hamstring injury picked up in training last month.

Ahead of this month's friendlies against Holland and Italy, England boss Southgate said: “I think he’s just not been fit.

“He went to Chelsea on the back of a long-term hamstring injury, quite a serious one, and has had only had a couple of matches really.

(Image: PA Wire)

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“He’s not available for selection now anyway, so he’s unfortunate in the way that has played out in this year in particular.

“But if he can get back playing and playing regularly I’m sure, post-summer, we will look again.

“It’s going to be difficult for him I think to get the number of games he needs now for the World Cup. But we know he’s a talented player.”

The midfielder made Roy Hodgson's Euro 2016 squad but did not get a game (Image: The FA via Getty)

It’s a major blow for the 24-year-old, who had hoped to be picked for Russia after leaving his boyhood club and getting the fresh start he craved at Stamford Bridge.

Barkley won the last of his 22 caps in a friendly against Australia almost two years ago, in the build-up to Euro 2016.

Although selected in Roy Hodgson’s 23-man squad for that tournament he didn’t play in any of the Three Lions' four games, was dropped by Sam Allardyce for his only match in charge and has not featured yet for Southgate.